At a glance: Feel-good activities that offer a new way to experience Barbados
What: The best wellness activities and sports to do in Barbados, suggested by island experts
Where: The naturally beautiful island of Barbados in the Caribbean
Don’t miss: Practicing your warrior poses overlooking the ocean each morning
Highlight: Learning island’s native racquet sport, road tennis, with the locals
Travel tip: Book with Virgin Atlantic Holidays and the expert team will help tailor a Barbados escape around your wellness goals
When the landscape looks this good, it’d be rude not to go outside and enjoy it. Between its stunning beaches, lush gullies, rolling hills and rugged east-coast landscapes, Barbados is a haven for outdoor activities that support the mind, body and soul.
Exploring Barbados’ magnificent coastline is a no-brainer, and you can try anything from snorkelling to yoga on paddleboards while you’re there. Inland are verdant valleys and rolling hills to hike through, as well as local towns full of sports fanatics to get active with. But where to begin? We asked Barbados residents and wellness experts for their favourite activities on the island.
And if you book your Barbados getaway with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, the good vibes flow well before you land there — from letting the knowledgeable team take care of all the planning to unwinding in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Heathrow Airport before your flight. Start as you mean to go on…
“You can play road tennis — a variation of lawn tennis that was invented in Barbados — everywhere on the island. It’s a community-driven sport. But there are some areas with official public courts: Belfield in Black Rock is a popular one. You can purchase your own racquets before you go down, but Bajans are the most hospitable people in the world, so if you come to try it out they’ll have no problem giving you a racquet. Trust me, once they see a tourist, they’re going to try to teach them the game!” — Dale Clarke is the founder of the Professional Road Tennis Association (PRTA)
“When it comes to actually being in the water, we have a lot of shipwrecks that are actually very close to shore and very shallow. In Carlisle Bay, you can literally walk off the beach into the water with a snorkel and swim out maybe 10 minutes, and there’s six shipwrecks right there.” — Malou Morgan is a Bajan mum who runs Skip to Malou, a family travel and lifestyle blog
“Walkers Reserve [on the east coast of Barbados] was a sand quarry that’s now been turned into a centre for regenerative agroforestry. It’s a huge expansive green space and you can now go walking, cycling and exploring. It's so peaceful, calming and relaxing. It just rejuvenates you; nourishes your spirit. A lot of Barbadians don’t know it, and when I share it on my social media I get asked where it is! They’re amazed by it.” — Celia Collymore is the founder of the wellness and fitness business Bajan Fusion
“The Great Train Hike should be on the bucket list for people who already have a bit of fitness (the Barbados heat makes it challenging). It follows approximately 24 miles of old train tracks from Bridgetown to Belleplaine, and gives a great taste of the island’s history and its diverse countryside. If you’re keen on a big walk, check the Barbados Hiking Association’s group for their scheduled events.” — Stacey Gilkes is a personal trainer who runs the blog Wandering Bajans
“The most relaxing activity I’ve done in Barbados was a combination of beach yoga and horse riding with Barbados Equestrian Experience. Starting the morning with a yoga session by the ocean helped me slow down and clear my mind, and riding a horse through the shallow water as the waves gently rolled in felt like something out of a movie.” — Sarah Campus is a wellness expert and founder of LDN Mums Fitness. She recently returned from an extended trip to Barbados
Wish you were there? This August, Virgin Atlantic Holidays and Visit Barbados are bringing a taste of island life to Battersea Power Station with three days of food, music, movement and plenty of reasons to start dreaming about the real thing.
